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The MINI Countryman, Fun has no Limits

OK, it looks like MINI is serious. They are actually making an SUV version (OK, crossover) of their little, yet too much fun, hatchback. It’s called the MINI Countryman, and it actually looks like it could work out OK, for what it is.

It’s not a serious off-roader by any means. This isn’t something that you could take out through the back country of Moab or some such, but it DOES have four doors, more room and better ground clearance.

The new MINI Countryman is the fourth model of the MINI family. They call it “a genuine crossover vehicle” whatever that might mean. The Countryman is said to offer “enhanced opportunities in urban mobility and beyond,” all the while retaining the MINI’s go-kart like handling.

The MINI Countryman is the first model in the MINI range with four doors and a wide-opening rear lid. This is all there for more usability, easier entry, exit, hauling capacity, those sorts of practical considerations. The inside features four up seating, there’s now middle seat in the back – but that only follows, doesn’t it? Better to sit four in comfort, than cram five into a sardine-esque seating arrangement.

The MINI Countryman also comes with optional ALL4 all-wheel-drive. Making it a very practical, urban runabout for towns like, oh, let’s say Boston.

The MINI Cooper Countryman has a 1.6 liter naturally aspirated four banger that puts out 120 hp at 6,000 rpm, and 118 lb-ft of torque at 4,250 rpm. It can do 0-100 km/h in 10.5 seconds, and tops out at 190 km/h (118 mph).

The MINI Cooper S Countryman has the same basic engine, on it’s fitted with a twin-scroll turbocharger. The bottom lines there are 180 hp at 5,500 rpm, torque of 177 lb-ft at 1,600 rpm (at least 192 lb-ft with Overboost), and acceleration of 0-100 km/h: in 7.6 seconds. Top speed is 205 km/h (128 mph).

Now, about that permanent all-wheel-drive system. It utilizes an electro-hydraulic differential, positioned directly on the transmission\’s final drive, to vary the power distribution from front to rear. Under normal driving conditions, up to 50 percent of the engine\’s power goes to the rear wheels. Under “extreme” conditions (no, they didn’t say what counts as extreme) up to 100 percent heads to the back wheels.

Sounds like fun.

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About The Author

Tony Borroz grew up in a sportscar oriented family, but sadly, it was British cars. His knuckles still show the marks of slipped Whitworth sockets, strains to reach rear upper shock bushings on Triumphs and slight burn marks from dealing with Lucas Electric "systems". He has written for a variety of car magazines and websites, Automoblog chief among them, as well as working on very popular driving games as a content expert. He has also worked for aerospace companies, software giants and as a movie stuntman. He currently lives in a secure, undisclosed location in the American southwestern desert.